[Discombobulated]

I think this is fairly common, dwelling on something that troubles us and ruminating over it, becoming stuck and mentally not moving forward - if that makes sense.

It’s my number one problem, I know it, yet I still do it. In fact I think if I chew over one issue it is swiftly replaced my a new one, so it’s pretty much a state of mind with me.

Does anyone have any strategies for this? Has anyone made progress and reduced or stopped dwelling/ruminating?

Some things that help me are distracting, such as a cleaning or organising task, but it only lasts as long as the activity lasts then my brain switches back.

If you knew me in real life you’d probably think I was ‘normal’ but maybe if you got to know me better you’d start to realise I was ‘worrier’ even then you probably wouldn’t realise the full extent because I don’t divulge it to many people.

[Yaowen]

So sorry this is happening to you. It happens to me too.

I know a couple of techniques that help me. Don't know if they would help you though. I will be happy to share them with you if you want. One is a bit bizarre. Both were taught to me by a psychiatrist. Maybe I shared these with you before. I would hate to repeat myself if you already know what I have in mind. So sorry you are afflicted with this ! ! !

Wishing you only the very, very best. Yao Wen

[Discombobulated]

Originally Posted by Yaowen

So sorry this is happening to you. It happens to me too.

I know a couple of techniques that help me. Don't know if they would help you though. I will be happy to share them with you if you want. One is a bit bizarre. Both were taught to me by a psychiatrist. Maybe I shared these with you before. I would hate to repeat myself if you already know what I have in mind. So sorry you are afflicted with this ! ! !

Wishing you only the very, very best. Yao Wen

You are always very kind, thank you!

I would very much appreciate hearing any techniques that you’ve found help you, please feel free to share.

[Breaking Dawn]

I'm not very good at using my tricks lately, @Discombobulated. But one that has helped me I kind of dreamed up myself. So, I catch myself thinking negative thoughts, or I'm worrying, I say, "Ah hah!! Oh no you don't!" My thinking room is like an attic up there (pretend ), & there's a big huge hose leading to it from the county garbage dump. I send my intruder negative thoughts there with the built in vacuum cleaner. Then, a cement mixer truck pours
wet cement all over the thoughts & they harden & stay there. Then I dust my thinking room with a pretty feather duster. A ray of golden sunlight from the vent slats shows me my thinking room is nice & clean, ready for only lovely thoughts. IF some intruder thoughts sneak in, I repeat the process. Hugs & love!

[AliceKate]

Meditation (I'm using an App called Headspace)

[Discombobulated]

Originally Posted by Breaking Dawn

I'm not very good at using my tricks lately, @Discombobulated. But one that has helped me I kind of dreamed up myself. So, I catch myself thinking negative thoughts, or I'm worrying, I say, "Ah hah!! Oh no you don't!" My thinking room is like an attic up there (pretend ), & there's a big huge hose leading to it from the county garbage dump. I send my intruder negative thoughts there with the built in vacuum cleaner. Then, a cement mixer truck pours
wet cement all over the thoughts & they harden & stay there. Then I dust my thinking room with a pretty feather duster. A ray of golden sunlight from the vent slats shows me my thinking room is nice & clean, ready for only lovely thoughts. IF some intruder thoughts sneak in, I repeat the process. Hugs & love!

I really like this, you’re a very visual and creative thinker!

[Discombobulated]

Originally Posted by AliceKate

Meditation (I'm using an App called Headspace)

I’ve got to admit although meditation is well established and proven I’ve never been able to get away with it, I might look at that app though, thanks.

[Yaowen]

@Discombobulated

One technique that I learned that helped me is this.

It is a sort of guided imagery technique. We each inherit a brain. We don't get to the pick the brain we are born with. To use a very crude analogy, this brain of ours, this little three pound "meat computer" is getting all kinds of unasked for "hardware" and "software" downloaded into it from birth.

This comes from parents, relatives, teachers, the various arts and media, those in our circle of friends, enemies and acquaintances and so on.

This little brain of ours has sort of a prime directive to keep us alive and healthy and works 24/7 to this end, even while we sleep. At the same time it bombards us with a steady stream of thoughts, sensations and feelings triggered by all kinds of external and internal factors.

Sometimes it gets into obsessive streams of consciousness like feedback loops.

The trick that helps me most, and one I learned from a psychiatrist is this...

When being overwhelmed by anything simply take some time and repeat these words silently to oneself over and over again: "I love you little brain." I usually begin and end my day in bed with this little litany of words. It calms me down. It centers me. It distracts me. It helps me feel better.

A variation on this theme involves getting a little more specific. Hard to explain so I will give some examples:

I love you little brain even though you are feeling worried
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling worried about being worried.
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling kind of angry at yourself for not being able to overcome the worry
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling angry that you are angry
I love you little brain now that you are feeling kind of foolish about all this
I love you little brain even though obsessive thoughts are returning and scaring you
I love you little brain even though all this is making you a little scared and depressed

The point of all this is that one can love one's brain no matter what it is generating.

One can sort of thrown ones arms around it and literally give it love. In a the brain is sometimes like a little child in one's care, and one finds that one can comfort it. Instead of fighting what it is doing, embrace it.

This is something a psychiatrist taught me and it helps me a lot. Not sure it would help you are anyone else. We are all so different and what works for one of us might not work for another.

Wishing you and your brain the best of luck! Yao Wen

[AliceKate]

Originally Posted by Yaowen

I love you little brain even though you are feeling worried
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling worried about being worried.
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling kind of angry at yourself for not being able to overcome the worry
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling angry that you are angry
I love you little brain now that you are feeling kind of foolish about all this
I love you little brain even though obsessive thoughts are returning and scaring you
I love you little brain even though all this is making you a little scared and depressed

I love that idea

I'd change it a bit though and not say "even though", but "because":
I love you little brain because you care so much for me you are feeling worried

[Discombobulated]

Originally Posted by Yaowen

@Discombobulated

One technique that I learned that helped me is this.

It is a sort of guided imagery technique. We each inherit a brain. We don't get to the pick the brain we are born with. To use a very crude analogy, this brain of ours, this little three pound "meat computer" is getting all kinds of unasked for "hardware" and "software" downloaded into it from birth.

This comes from parents, relatives, teachers, the various arts and media, those in our circle of friends, enemies and acquaintances and so on.

This little brain of ours has sort of a prime directive to keep us alive and healthy and works 24/7 to this end, even while we sleep. At the same time it bombards us with a steady stream of thoughts, sensations and feelings triggered by all kinds of external and internal factors.

Sometimes it gets into obsessive streams of consciousness like feedback loops.

The trick that helps me most, and one I learned from a psychiatrist is this...

When being overwhelmed by anything simply take some time and repeat these words silently to oneself over and over again: "I love you little brain." I usually begin and end my day in bed with this little litany of words. It calms me down. It centers me. It distracts me. It helps me feel better.

A variation on this theme involves getting a little more specific. Hard to explain so I will give some examples:

I love you little brain even though you are feeling worried
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling worried about being worried.
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling kind of angry at yourself for not being able to overcome the worry
I love you little brain even though now you are feeling angry that you are angry
I love you little brain now that you are feeling kind of foolish about all this
I love you little brain even though obsessive thoughts are returning and scaring you
I love you little brain even though all this is making you a little scared and depressed

The point of all this is that one can love one's brain no matter what it is generating.

One can sort of thrown ones arms around it and literally give it love. In a the brain is sometimes like a little child in one's care, and one finds that one can comfort it. Instead of fighting what it is doing, embrace it.

This is something a psychiatrist taught me and it helps me a lot. Not sure it would help you are anyone else. We are all so different and what works for one of us might not work for another.

Wishing you and your brain the best of luck! Yao Wen

Thanks, this is really interesting to me and helpful.

[RollercoasterLover]

I learned visualization techniques from my first T. I started by looking at myself in the mirror and telling myself to stop focusing on whatever I was dwelling on and focus on something more productive (mental distraction). When it wasn't quite enough to just do that. I would picture myself putting the ruminations in a box. Then sealing the boxes. Then a truck taking them to a warehouse. A couple years ago I dreamt that the warehouse was overrun by mice who feasted on my worries. Now, when I start worrying about stuff too much I picture a bunch of mice with forks and spoons. It makes me laugh.

[Discombobulated]

Thanks, you’re all so creative! I have an issue with visualising, although if someone tells me what to visualise specifically I can.

[AzulOscuro]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I think this is fairly common, dwelling on something that troubles us and ruminating over it, becoming stuck and mentally not moving forward - if that makes sense.

It’s my number one problem, I know it, yet I still do it. In fact I think if I chew over one issue it is swiftly replaced my a new one, so it’s pretty much a state of mind with me.

Does anyone have any strategies for this? Has anyone made progress and reduced or stopped dwelling/ruminating?

Some things that help me are distracting, such as a cleaning or organising task, but it only lasts as long as the activity lasts then my brain switches back.

If you knew me in real life you’d probably think I was ‘normal’ but maybe if you got to know me better you’d start to realise I was ‘worrier’ even then you probably wouldn’t realise the full extent because I don’t divulge it to many people.

Yeah, I know how to overcome this. Practise of Mindfulness.

[AzulOscuro]

Originally Posted by AliceKate

I love that idea

I'd change it a bit though and not say "even though", but "because":
I love you little brain because you care so much for me you are feeling worried

This is indeed Mindfulness of compassion.

[Mendingmysoul]

I do the same teqnique but in a bit different way.I tell myself throughout the day "Thank you dear brain for keeping me sane after what all happened".I am thankful to my brain.I am grateful to my brain for all the hard work it does to keep me sane.These are the affirmations.I look in the mirror and call myself cute little baby names,talk to myself as if I am talking to a baby.Smile and coo at myself.Things like that.

[Discombobulated]

I have been saying “I love you little brain” and it has definitely helped put the break on galloping thoughts.

[Fuzzybear]